Recommend April 2012 - (Page 24)

PARADISUS PLAYA DEL CARMEN continued from page 20 “El Zocalo is a big part of the energy and life of the property, with music, lounges, entertainment and nightlife for each of the two resorts.” Bernard Wyss, Area Vice President, Paradisus culinary genius As amazing as the accommodations are—and really, they are—the gastronomy at Paradisus Playa del Carmen is what shines the brightest. “When you hear all-inclusive, you think buffet,” Wyss says. “We took this into consideration, and we thought, ‘If we want to be different from our competitors, we have to make gastronomy a focus.’ And we did.” Featuring 14 restaurants and eight bars—each with its own signature drink that must be tried—nearly any craving can be satiated. There’s Latin fusion at Fuego, contemporary Asian at Bana, Mexican at Mole, Italian-Argentinean at The Grill and Mediterranean at Vento. Snacks can be found at Sunrise or Sunset Grills, while Hadar and Naos are the only two buffet restaurants on property serving up international lunch and dinner all day long. And those just named? That’s just an example. There are still more restaurants begging to serve. However, it’s Passion by Martin Berasategui, a reservations-only experience—and we don’t use that word lightly—that is the highlight of them all. The only non-inclusive restaurant at Paradisus, Passion is the baby of famed three Michelin star Spanish chef, Martin Berasategui, and this editor tasted it all ﬁrst hand, from the deliciously ﬂavorful oysters with watercress, arugula and lemon-grass to the baked sea bass with tomato conﬁt, peppers and lime vinaigrette, which more or less melted in her mouth. “It’s a unique experience to be in an idyllic location like this,” Berasategui says. “Passion is more than just a gastronomic project; it’s a bunch of experiences under one roof. It’s a personal experience, and as cooks are happy, we in the kitchen transfer that happiness to the patrons.” And the smile on peoples’ faces as they leave Passion makes it evident that Berasategui means what he says. Dinner rates for Passion by Martin Berasategui start at $40 pp for guests staying on property; guests who stay at least four nights in a Royal Service Suite, however, will receive one free dinner at Passion. Off-property guests of Passion can also enjoy dinner with rates starting at $90 pp. The turqouise water and white-sand beach take center stage at the resort. tear-free in-room bath products, making bath time a breeze. And what better way to coax the children to bed than with a complimentary milk and cookie turndown service? La Perla, meanwhile, provides 394 suites, 120 of them offering exquisite service through its Royal Service Suites. Guests choosing Royal Service receive similar private check-in/check-out and butler amenities as Family Concierge at La Esmeralda, but they also enjoy preferential and guaranteed reservations for specialty restaurants, spa and activities, access to a private beach area with beach concierge, a private Royal Service massage cabin in the lounge and in-room aromatherapy and pillow menus. All guestrooms at the Paradisus Playa del Carmen are oversized and outﬁtted with marble ﬂoors, 40-inch ﬂat-screen TVs, and ultra-cozy linens, while bathrooms feature LED-lit tubs so big you might need swimming lessons—and at La Perla, double rain showers, too. Add to that the eco-friendly bath products and bath salts, and the option of having either a jacuzzi tub on the balcony, or a swim-up suite providing instant access to the pool, and your clients will most certainly agree, accommodations here are nothing to sneeze at. 22 april 2012 getting active After all of that eating, there’s only two things to do: sleep it off in the sun at one of the Bali beds or palapas surrounding the pools, or get up and get moving with one of the oh-so-many activities available. Daily activities programs can be found in each guestroom, outlining the activities taking place each day for the week. Fit for all tastes, activities include health and wellness classes that run all day, such as yoga, Pilates or stretching each morning; volleyball and aqua gym in the early recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend April 2012

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Provenance Hotels
Tour Talk: Trafalgar
Sailing the Galapagos Islands
Now Sapphire
Paradisus Playa del Carmen
Treat Yourself to Brussels
Panama Specialist Program
New Zealand
Turkish Delights
Women Wellness Retreats
The Still-Single Mingle in Vegas
Club Med Sandpiper, Florida
Hawaii: Escaping to the Islands

Recommend April 2012